Mindfulness, Moderating and Not Texting In The Kitchen !

[Amdone123]

Morning all..hope you're all ok. Well I had busy weekend. I didn't quite stick to my plans : I drank Friday evening ( didn't eat), and drank last night, too. I don't feel great today but I am looking forward to having a break. I know I want to get back to being af and all its benefits.
I was thinking that I am able to stay in and not drink. My next step will be going out and not going mad !

@TripleTipplePipple , I have got to start reading some quit lit. I don't know why I'm so averse to reading any. I love reading, it's one of my greatest joys - I think that's the problem. I read to escape, to be entertained and I don't think I'd get that from quit lit.

@Amdone123 I know what you mean, I'm the same. A friend who had read it recommended it and it's short and to the point. I've read it over two days and it has been excellent for framing how I feel about it, I'm glad a read it!

Evening, folks, hope you're all ok.
I've had a good day. Walked 13k steps with my dsis, laughed a lot. We ended up in the supermarket which can be dangerous for me. I was eyeing up the prosecco but decided I didn't want to drink today.....1) I'm out tomorrow and I want to look fresh 2 ) I'm definitely becoming more interested in a good night's sleep than drinking and 3) it doesn't hold the same allure as it used to....it's too cold to stand in the kitchen. I'd rather be in bed !
Are we all out tomorrow evening?
I'm going to a club ( a working men's club !). We can't go out til 7.30pm as dh is working. This will be a different approach for me as I won't drink before we go out (nothing in and I'm not going out for it).
I'm hoping I won't get drunk when out ( i know I can control this but hope you see what i mean) and that I'll feel OK new year's day, as we're at a party then too.

@Amdone123 we will be hiding at home, I cant remember the last time I went out on NYE. Although we still usually work our way through a fair bit of booze at home. Not this year, I'll be in bed by 9pm and grumbling at midnight when we get woken up by fireworks going off 😂 hope you have a good night!

@TripleTipplePipple 🤣🤣
I'm quite looking forward to it. We rarely go out but when we do, we have a laugh. It's nothing fancy : bingo, singer.....think Phoenix Nights !
I was wondering about dry Jan : I'm up for it but will probably set a target of say 27 af days as I've got a few things on ( new years day for 1, so that's a good start. Not ).

Morning @Amdone123 and @TripleTipplePipple how are you both? I’m sat here feeling… hungover… having not drank since Xmas day went to dinner…. had a headache so said I may not drink but stayed out late and drank just over a bottle of red and a cocktail!!!! Had a lovely evening, but this morning feel rubbish… slept badly and now feel like I’ve spoilt my day 🙄 trying not to be too hard on my self as it was a great night! I just hate these hangovers!!! And the low level anxiety I get the next day!!! Anyway… not out tonight, having a night in and after last night will be a sober one!!! Am planning on doing dry jan too!!!! Xxx

Morning @Mj20 , awh, don't be too hard on yourself. At least you've got a plan. You had a good night but I know what you mean about the hangovers. I'd pop some painkillers, have a bubble bath, then either get back in bed or walk ( depending on energy levels).
I was awake at 2am til about 4, I think. Was desperate to get up n start clearing and cleaning up !
Feel groggy now but I think I'm going to take advantage of an empty house and clear out.
I think 🤔

Morning! I'd like to rejoin if that's OK after a rather damp absence. Have been steadily drinking 2 large glasses of red at least for about the last 3 months and planning on a dry Jan. Nice to see you guys have kept the thread alive

Morning @Hohofortherobbers , of course you're welcome back. I think a few posters (myself included) 'dip' in n out. Life just gets in the way sometimes, or for me, I just sometimes come off social media for a break. I miss this forum though - it's one of the best ways for me, to control my intake.
I'm doing dry Jan but not everyday as I have 3 special occasions so I'm aiming for 27 af days. Are you planning on abstaining completely for January?

Thank you, I'm aiming for total AF Jan, I'll enjoy your company.

Thanks for the reply @Amdone123 - appreciate it! So although I feel hideously hungover I’m being kind to myself and remembering I had a lovely time, which I did! I’ve got some chores done, seen my dad and am now relaxing. Planning a nap and a bath and a very chilled night!!!
bliss!
hey @Hohofortherobbers welcome back! I’m the same I dip in and out! Sometimes it’s hard to keep up when you fall out of the habit of regularly posting! It’s great to see you back!

so I’m defo doing dry jan, except for one day which Is a special occasion! And based on todays hangover won’t be drinking tonight 🤣

If you have the urge to drink tonight and feel you're missing out if you don't, remember that "New Year's Eve + copious amounts of alcohol = fun" is just a story we have been sold.

How could "New Year's Eve + 1 glass of champagne = fun" be true?

Or even "New Year's Eve + tap water = fun"? (Yup, that's going to be my evening. But I'll be drinking the water out of a beautiful wine glass.)

Pull out a sheet of paper and challenge yourself to write out all the reasons. And if you find yourself resisting, question that too.

Understanding WHY we drink is the critical question to answer first. And to make sure you like your answer.

Happy New Year to all!

Happy (mindful!) New Year's Eve everyone! Would like to rejoin you for a year of balance and joy??Hoping to start with a dry January, starting from 2nd. Nice to still hear from@Amdone123 @Hohofortherobbers who I remember from their past support.

Very good advice @brightspice thank you! I'll have no encouragement tonight to drink anyway, still getting over my bug and DH is now in bed with a migraine bless him so it will be book, food, clean the kitchen, sort the dog, kids to bed and me to bed shortly after!

I've been thinking a lot this week about moderating. I don't think I can do it and having read the Joy of being Sober book I'm wondering whether I just shut up shop and go for teetotal. I've had enough failed attempts to moderate and only drink on a Fri or Sat night, or have two nights off a week, or only have one glass an evening instead of three, every variation you can imagine and I just can't do it. I've filled in a few questionnaires online about my drinking which are all very clearly indicating that I have a problem with it and I think if i was honest with myself I'd recognise that I do. I 'need' a drink now, rather than just 'enjoy' a drink. It's all I've thought about this last few days even though I've felt rough. I'm going to do the 100 day challenge and then decide where I go from there. Today is Day 4....

@TripleTipplePipple , I know exactly what you mean regarding moderating. The mental gymnastics have been spoken about on here lots of times - I think I'd be best quitting too, sometimes ( other times, I feel I'm very good at moderating). I was reading another thread before that's solely for those intent on quitting, which made me think, But what if you can't?! Anyway, I do understand the point of that thread ; I'm just saying, quitting sounds easy, but not many can? Sorry for the waffling - I assure you I'm sober 🤣
Thank you for your post @brightspice. I probably will drink tonight but I'm not that bothered, actually. I'll just drink because it's nye. I'd rather stay in. @Buntyforgirls , hi and welcome back !
Well, best get ready. Have a lovely evening everyone, and all the best for 2023 ❤️

Great advice @brightspice and hello @Buntyforgirls i remember you from before!!!! @TripleTipplePipple your plan sounds really good!!!!

happy new year from me to you all and I look forward to our new journey together xx

Happy New Year everyone. I did it alcohol free with an early night to boot and have still woken up with a headache and a sore neck!

@TripleTipplePipple congratulations! Waking on 1 Jan with a clear head is absolutely delicious! I'm so grateful to my past self that she put in the work to figure this drinking thing out.

Good morning and happy new year all!
Moderated well enough to be hang over free and able to enjoy the day. Hope you are all too.
@brightspice I always appreciate your advice, having read it on other threads also,so thank you.

Morning all!!!! Can confirm I was A/F along with @TripleTipplePipple and @brightspice and it’s lovely to wake up facing the new year with a clear head!!! Well done @Buntyforgirls on moderating!!!! Sounds like you did really well! How are you @Amdone123 @Hohofortherobbers and also anyone else I’ve missed!!!

Happy new year and well done! I had a blow out last night but I'm on board from today, try dry app downloaded, goal set, dry Jan here I come!

Happy new year, folks. Great to hear you're all on top form. Me, not so much. Oops.
I'm out today, too.
I look forward to it all being over !
@Hohofortherobbers , I must download that app. I'm not much of a techie / app person, but I found it useful last time. Thanks for the reminder. @TripleTipplePipple , it's so annoying when you wake up with a headache when you haven't even drank. I was like that in the run up to Xmas. So frustrating 😤

Evening all, I won't be long out of bed tonight, I'm exhausted. Having a sparkling water with Robinsons lime and mint cordial. Despite feeling hungover I've had little triggers, wine aisle in the supermarket, making dinner, looking ahead at plans we have for Jan. Can't believe how often thoughts of alcohol pass fleetingly through my mind in a day when I'm still feeling so poisoned from last night.

The try dry app has a progress record to measure sleep quality, mood and energy. It'll be interesting to see how quickly it improves, its way way down low today

@Hohofortherobbers I'd not heard of that app, I'm going to have a look! I know what you mean about little triggers. I think about wine A LOT at the moment....but I'm nearly at the end of Day 5. Longest I've gone in well over a year.